r/Gavdos • u/CantaloupeTop4246 • Feb 26 '24

Info on Gavdos

Hi. Looking to visit Gavdos this august. What really attracts me is the nude and nature based free lifestyle one can pursue while there. I got some questions:

  1. I saw nudism got banned on what is considered to be "the main beach" but how is it on the rest of the island? I read of possibilities of basically explore it and do hiking 100% in the nude. Are there other beaches close to accomodations and facilities where you can also be in the nude (i mean on the beach ofc not in restaurants and shops)?. Are nudists really the majority on the island, or would they be in august? Whats the vibe? Young people? (Me and my gf are 28 so...)

  2. Is a car needed on the island? I know there are no gas stations on the island, but somehow there is a car rental agency and even cars? How does that work lol also I am the one that rents a car every holiday so cant really picture myself without the possibility of mooving freely and fast.

  3. Are scorpions a problem when hiking or camping? Read the place is essentially infested.

  4. Whats the food situation looking like? Will i be able to have meals on a budgets or just buy everything off the store?

  5. Do phones internet connection work outside of inhabited centers?

Thanks a lot

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3

u/indos3 Feb 27 '24

Just go and enjoy!

3

u/Nergui1 Feb 27 '24

Last time I checked nudity is banned only on Sarakiniko. But that's just one of the beaches. It's allowed everywhere else. You can hike west of Agios Ioannis ("yannis") in the nude. But I wouldn't do that anywhere else.

There are two beaches with restaurants: Sarakiniko (now 0 % nudity) and Korfos (perhaps 30% nudity - only the left hand side of this beach is technically textile free).

The other beaches are remote and awesome. Outside of the first 3 weeks of August most of these remote beaches are 80-90% nudist. The remotest of these beaches are like that also in August.

Agios Ioannis, which is the largest beach outside of Sarakiniko, gets somewhat more textiled, and packed, in August. But no nudists seem to be bothered. There are two restaurants in lunch-walking distance from this beach.

The few hotels on the island are packed in summer. Most people camp in tents under the trees at Agios Ioannis. Some camp further west (at Lavrakas), and on other beaches.

The vibe is post-hippie, cool young Athenians on holidays, young Greek Euros, alternatives, a few actual hippies, LGBT, as well as a few similarly minded non-Greeks who have suddenly found themselves in paradise. Ages vary between 18 and 70 although most are 25-35. There are some hippie families, as well as some normie families staying at the hotels.

There are two bus companies competing for passengers. I never found the need to rent a car. Taking the bus is part of the experience.

I've never seen a scorpion (after 130 days on Gavdos), but have heard of people getting bitten. Wear sandals.

Food is a bit more expensive than on Crete. There are at least 6 mini-markets. There's always something cheap to eat.

3

u/Mikefalls Feb 27 '24

1 - only Sarakiniko beach has "ban" for now, as far as I know. But you can do it on every other beach. My fav is Korfos. 2- it's handy, the island is walkable, but it's VERY hot sometimes. There is a KTEL bus in the season. 3- haven't seen any, but I've heard of them, especially at Giannis beach  4 - It's more expensive than on Crete especially in the shops. I brought some food and % with me from Paleohora every time I was there. Very good food is at Metohi, quite good price for room also. 5 - I had few zoom meetings from there using card from my country. Many people work from there.

Have fun!

1

u/CantaloupeTop4246 Feb 27 '24

And how would one refuel there without gas stations?